Handling nitroglycerin.



0. HERMANSON.

HANDLING NITROGLYCERIN. APPLICATION FILED nec. 7,1912.'

Patented Apr. 18,1916.

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Y applied for this and will shatter any UNITED. STATES rATENCr OFFICE.

OSCAR HERMANSON, YORK, Y.

HANDLING NrrnoGnYoi-imi.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr, 18, 191.6.:

Application filed December 7, 1912. Serial N o. 735,544.

At the detonation of a high explosive two distinct effects are observed. One is the blasting effect, caused by expansion ofthe gases, which consumes a measurable time, depending on the resistance overcome. The other is the shattering effect which takes no measurable time and seems to be caused by intermolecular action transmitting the energy from the gas to its confining inclosure, which it disintegrates. The charge of a gun barrel must have the least of a shattering eHect that spoils the barrel and therefore a slow burning powder is used for propelling projectiles in a barrel, while iii a bomb or in a loaded shell only the blasting effect of the explosive counts and therefore a charge is preferred that is safe against spontaneous and against accidental detonation. The blasting effect of an explosive depends upon the amount of gas and of heat produced by the chemical reaction in the explosive comound and demands the complete utilization or combustion vof all of its ingredients, While for the shattering effect the instantaneous detonation of the whole charge is the paramount exigency. An attack on battleships with armor piercing shells from aircraft cannot be expected because guns for such projectiles will be too heavy for any aircraft, and therefore battleships are-considered proof against aerial attacks,if how ever a barrel of pure nitroglycerin is dropped from a safe distance on the armored deck of a ship, the whole mass of the nitroglycerin becomes detonated on the impact armor plate. The reason why nitroglycerin has not been purpose heretofore lies -in its terrible sensitiveness and the imminent danger of its spontaneous explosion, but this danger I-reduce to adegree of reasonable safety by applying a projectile which .i

contains in separate compartments, an alcoholic solution of nitroglycerin on the one hand, and water on the other hand, and which may be'carried indefinitely without peril and before dropping it the mixture of the liquids will precipitate the nitroglycerin. Prior to his discovery of kieselguhr Mr. Alfred Nobel sold the nitroglycerin he manufactured in this country dissolved in alcohol from which it is recovered by water that exerts a stronger attraction on the alcohol but does not dissolve nitroglycerin, which is precipitated and due to its higher specific gravity collects in its pure condition in the bottom of the receptacle. All'accidents occurring in that application .were traceable either to evaporation of the alcohol.or to access of moisture, whereby a separation of traces of pure nitroglycerin took place, liable to spontaneously detonating the bulk of the explosive with disastrous consequences, but just this delicate property shall be taken advantage of for demonstrating that battleships may be destroyed like other vessels.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows a charged bucket; Fig. 2 a charged projectile in a delivery tube;-Fig. 3 another projectile; and Fig. 4 a storage tank for methylated nitroglycerin.

The b'..cket shown in Fig. 1 carries inside another shallower bucket with a perforated bottom, closed by means of a stopper on a stem Wi" handle 1, so that this stopper can be withdrawn upward, affording communication between the lower and the upper compartment within. The lower compartment is filled with methylated nitroglycerin 2, and the upper compartment with water 3,' or vice versa, and closed -with a lid 4. The surfaces of the buckets coming in contact with the nitroglycerin must be perfectly smooth in order to prevent the: detonation of the latter by friction. This bucket. charged with nitroglycerin is perfectly harmless on an aeroplane when properly suspended and guarded against spilling.

When the battleship to be sunk is 1n sight and has bfen approached for action, the operator pulls the stopper 1 out of the' hole-in the upper bucket, allowing the water to mix with the nitroglycerin below. Inr order to accelerate the reaction of the liquids, he alternately turns the bucket upside down, but

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dangerous inanieasure asthe pure nitro- Preparing for glycerin is precipitated, and shall not be at tempted by anybody who has not practised it before with a glass jar of the same size and divided similarly into an upper and a lower compartment by a partition containing a hole of the same size. Practising with such a transparent jar, the operator watches the time it takes the heavier liquid to flow down and how many times he must reverse the bucket in order to precipitate all ot' the pure nitroglycerin which has become a death dealing peril in his hands. Having practised the dropping of similar buckets on targets, he must be sure to hit the battleship below, and ii necessary repeat the dose.

If the bucket is too heavy for the operator to drop it safely from his hand, it may be suspended with a rope he will cut or will release in the proper moment, but the skill for all these manipulations must be previously acquired by suiicient practice with objects of a similar shape and similar weight. u'.

F or discharge of larger quantities of nitroglycerin an apparatus like Fig. 2 may be used, which consists of a tube 5, similar to a torpedo tube and held by trunnions 6 in a bracket 7 that is properly suspended on the aeroplane. Inside the tube 5 is the charged cylindrical projectile 8, divided into two compartments by the partition 9 which has a hole in its center, closed by the stopper 10, on a rod with the handle l1. The top of the bipartite cylinder 8 has a bunghole with a sto a er 12 b which the u er compartment may be filled with methylated nitroglycerin 13, and equally there is in the bottom a bunghole with a stopper 14, Where thc lower compartment is filled with water l5, or vice versa. The projectile either must closely fit into the tube, or must be pro vided with a gasket so as to shut the tube airtight, which on top is connected by a hose 16 with a tank holding compressed air.

` action, lthe stopper is removed by means of its handle 1l and then the tube is cautiously turned upside down and alternately reversed a few times until the operator is sure that all the nitroglycerin has been precipitated. Then he may take his aim and discharge the pro- 'jectile byopening the valve at the compression tank. Of course, all these operations can only be performed by a skilled operator, who physically, mentally, and morally is equal to his task and has carefully practised the several manipulations with a tube and projectile of similar size and provided with glass windows through which he can watch the iow oi the liquids from ment into the' other and observe the time vrequired for precipitating all ot the nitroglycerin..

By means of such bipartite vessels'any amount of destruction may be wrought from the air if the operator can f any other solvent one compart-,

keep high enough, out oi the reach of bullets, and sure to hit his aim. The water on top of the nitroglycerin that settles in the lower compartment and leads the falling projectile` should not be decanted, ertia it materially increases the er'lect, when the nitroglycerin, remaining underneath owing to its higher weight, strikes the target. It is clear that the shape and the size of such bipartite vessels used is only of iniportance so far as it may ease or impede the facility of handling them; and I may replace the simple stoppers in the partition, shown in the drawing, by some equivalent contrivances establishing communication between the two compartments, that can be controlled from the outside.

In place of a bipartite vessel, as described in the foregoing, single vessels could be used, hall'l filled with methylated nitrof glycerin, to which for action is added water carried in another vessel; or two barrels could be applied, one filled with mcthylated nitroglycerin and the other with water, and both connected with a tube, or with a flexible hose, as shown in F ig. 3, and if properly suspended and skilfully handled, the mixing of the liquids might be effected somehow, but it is obvious that such a makeshift cannot be considered in an operation requiring the highest degree of promptness and precision, and where a bungling performance invites imminent death. AIn place of methylalcohol for nitroglycerin could be used, for instance any other alcohol, but methylalcohol is preferable because of its quicker reaction.

Since pure nitroglycerin is not suitable for transportation, it always will be dissolved in alcohol at the factory and will be held in solution for storage, when it must be considered that evaporation of the alcohol, or access 0i moisture or of water by any accident tothe solution, always will ,cause a precipitation of pure nitroglycerin, with the attending danger of its spontaneous detonation at any moment. rIlhercfore every possible precaution .must be taken with the liquid in storage, and it must be kept either in small vessels holding measured quantities to be applied at a time, and that are hermetically sealed and are sure to remain so until they are `wanted, or the methylatcd nitroglycerin maybe carried aboard ships in a contrivancc like at, where th'c inner tank 17 holds the mcthylated nitroglycerin 18 in its bottom and on top ol it a substantial layeroi` a sealing liquid, like heavy mineral oil 19. In order to prevent the agitation of the liquid, which will cause evaporationof the alcohol and may emulsify the liquids, the tank 17 is divided by partitions 2O into sma,ll, compartments that only communicate by perforations in the partitions, Anyjlalcohol so as to remain always lled.

because by its inthat evaporates will accumulate on to`p of the oil and its vapors may escape at the oillocked siphon 21. The nitroglycerin may be Withdrawn or may be run in by means of the pipe 22, reaching to the bottom of thetank 17, and for sake of safety the latter is placed within the outer tank 23 that will catch any seepage in case the tank 1T should leak. This outer tank 23 may be .left empty, or may be filled with the same oil as the inner tank 17 on top of the nitroglycerin, and may bel closed on top and provided with a siphon trap. The inspection pipe 24; is shown reaching to the bottom ot' the outer tank- 23. By means of this pipe, or by otherl means, every day shall be ascertained if there is no leakage of the inner tank, which,

if neglected, may lead to a disaster.

Having in the foregoing described my invention, what I claim as such, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A ballisticmachine comprising a projectile with two compartments and a means for establishing communication between them from the outside; and a discharging tube mounted by trunnions in a suspended frame allowing' to tilt the tube in every direction; and a reservoir for compressed fair connected by hose With the dischar ing tube, substantially as described in the oregoing and for the purpose specified. 2. A ballistic machine comprising a discharging tube, connected by hose with a reservoir for compressed air and mounted by trunnions in a suspended frame; and a projectile charged with an alcoholic solution of nitroglycerin and with water, in separate compartments, to be connected before dischargingthe projectile, substantially as described in the foregoing and for the purpose specified. In testimony whereof I have signed my name Ato this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR HERMANSON.

vWitnesses:

' Anomrr MEISEL,

GUs'rUs IxuAiiMEn. 

